Edith Nesbit's novel "The Railway Children" tells the story of the trials and adventures of a middle class Edwardian family living in the suburbs of London at the turn of the century. The story is set during the spring, summer and autumn months of 1903. The family consists of three children: Roberta, known as "Bobbie" who at 11 years old, is the eldest of the three, followed by Peter, who wants to be an engineer when he grows up, and Phyllis, the youngest, who means well Then there is Mother and Father, Mother writes poetry and stories to keep the children amused, and Father works for the government in the Foreign Office. Edith Nesbit describes them as being "just perfect." The family live in a red brick house called Edgecombe Villa, which has all the modern conveniences, as the estate agents say